The defect
VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 VNL AND VNM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2011. DURING THE COUPLING PROCESS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO PARTIALLY CLOSE THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK AND IF SOLELY RELYING ON A TUG TEST (PULL TEST), THE DRIVER MAY THINK THAT THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK IS PROPERLY COUPLED TO THE TRAILER KING PIN WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT PROPERLY COUPLED.
The risk
IF THE DRIVER DRIVES AWAY WITH A TRAILER THAT IS NOT PROPERLY COUPLED, THE TRAILER CAN COME LOOSE AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCK BAR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volvo VNL | 2011, 2012 |
| Volvo VNM | 2011, 2012 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo VNL | 2011 | 4 | 12 |
| Volvo VNL | 2012 | 5 | 14 |
| Volvo VNM | 2011 | 0 | 6 |
| Volvo VNM | 2012 | 0 | 10 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2011
8 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the trailer hitches; VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 20 campaigns in all.
| 11V482000 23 Sept 2011 | ALUMINUM TRAILER COMPANY |
| 11V461000 1 Sept 2011 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 11V437000 23 Aug 2011 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 11V388000 1 Aug 2011 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 11V289000 18 May 2011 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 11V209000 31 Mar 2011 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 11V002000 4 Jan 2011 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011